Earlier I posed the question, Who relies most heavily on welfare?
The following graph replicates ethnic benefit data and adds marriage data. Is there a relationship between marriage rates and welfare dependence? It would appear so.
Click to view
Generally speaking, the higher the married portion of an ethnic group is, the lower the likelihood of relying on welfare, be it unemployment, sole parent or sickness benefits.
In New Zealand it is very unfashionable to praise marriage as an institution. Perhaps because marriage is viewed as patriarchal and Christian? On the other hand, marriages provide the stable and safe child-rearing economic units upon which successful societies are built. Marriage also requires commitment, which filters through to other aspects of people's lives.
And yet, overall, marriage rates are declining - a trend that does not bode well for the future.
Lindsay Mitchell is a welfare commentator who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.
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